"A wise man does not stand beneath a crumbling wall. Leaving the Ark, our lifeline, constantly exposed to the enemy's surveillance is unwise!"
"Indeed. While these grey chess pieces are creations of a True Immortal, they're not worth such a risk."
"Foolish! This set of chess pieces must hold a great secret. Profit and risk always coexist. How can we abandon them so easily?"
"It's truly a pity to discard them. I have an idea. Since the enemy can track their location, let's use that to our advantage. We send an elder carrying a grey chess piece to wander the void while we lie in ambush. Once the enemy takes the bait, we capture them!"
"Don't underestimate the enemy! How can you be sure our ambush won't become their trap?"
…
The elders argued fiercely, divided into two camps, neither able to convince the other. In the Ark's history, such disagreements were usually resolved by the head elder's final decision. Regardless of their previous stance, once the course was set, everyone had to comply unconditionally. This was to prevent another schism within the Ark.
However, this time, Zhong Daogong, known for his decisiveness, hesitated. He seemed to be contemplating something, his gaze sweeping across the room before settling on Li Fan.
"Everyone, please reconsider this carefully. We will reconvene tomorrow."
As the meeting dispersed, Zhong Daogong asked Li Fan to stay behind.
"What's this, Elder Zhong? A private interrogation?" Li Fan asked, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Zhong Daogong chuckled, unfazed. "Don't misunderstand, fellow Daoist. I've asked you to stay because I have a favor to ask."
Li Fan raised an eyebrow, his tone softening slightly. "Please speak freely, Elder Zhong."
"I heard you only have ten years left to live after the attack by the deathly energy storm?" Zhong Daogong began with a seemingly unrelated question.
"Indeed. Ten years is just an estimate. It might be even less."
"However, to me, twenty years or ten years… it makes no difference. I'm more concerned with seeing the world beyond the Great Wall before I die," Li Fan said with a cold snort.
Zhong Daogong bowed slightly. "The favor I'm about to ask is related to crossing the Great Wall. Before today's meeting, Elders Nangong, Lu, and Xu came to see me privately."
Li Fan's eyes narrowed.
Zhong Daogong continued, "Do you know what the Ark relies on to cross the Great Wall? Besides that 'high ground' on the Great Wall of Shattered Worlds we showed you. As you saw, while it offers a view of the Star Sea, it's still far from the top of the Wall."
"The Ark's explanation has always been gathering and detonating True Immortal Script power to breach the Wall…" Li Fan narrowed his eyes.
"That's not a lie. But have you considered how we can ensure the Ark's safety amidst the resulting chaotic storm of residual True Immortal power?" Zhong Daogong asked with a smile.
"Are you saying the Ark possesses a method to control residual True Immortal power?" Li Fan asked, surprised.
"'Control' isn't the right word. It's more like… self-preservation. And each use comes at a significant cost. That's why Elders Nangong, Lu, and Xu came to see me."
"What is it? Does it have life-extending properties?" Li Fan's curiosity grew.
"It's not an artifact or a treasure. It's the Equal Heavens Technique!" A glint flashed in Zhong Daogong's eyes.
"The Equal Heavens Technique?" Li Fan pondered the meaning of the name.
A look of reminiscence appeared on Zhong Daogong's face. "This technique is the culmination of the combined wisdom of the Profound Immortal Ark's elders over the past ten thousand years since the split. It's the Ark's most closely guarded secret, even more so than the True Immortal Script. As its name suggests, its function lies in the word 'Equal.' Under its influence, for a brief period, all beings are equal."
"When the tide of residual True Immortal power rages, the technique makes us equal to Immortals. If one of us is nearing their end, the technique allows us to share our lifespans, extending their life."
"This technique is the foundation of the elders' council's enduring existence," Zhong Daogong said solemnly.
"If that's true, then it's the most powerful technique I've ever encountered in the Star Sea. But if it's so potent, why not use it directly on the Great Wall?"
Zhong Daogong shook his head with a smile. "Firstly, the Great Wall, as we call it, isn't a physical object but a boundary confining us. Even if we could target it with the Equal Heavens Technique, while within its influence, we would only be equal to the Wall, regardless of external forces. To cross the Wall, we must surpass it. Being equal to it is insufficient." He sighed.
Li Fan nodded in agreement.
"Then what's the cost of using this technique?"
Zhong Daogong stroked his beard and answered truthfully, "While the Equal Heavens Technique can defy the heavens, it has limitations. Firstly, it requires extensive preparation. Secondly, since it's about 'equality,' the more elders participate, the better. However, with the Ark's dwindling population, the number of elders has remained low, diminishing the technique's effectiveness. Thirdly, and most importantly, are the side effects. After the 'equal' state ends, all participants are affected to a certain extent, exhibiting a certain… convergence of characteristics."
Li Fan instantly understood. "Is this Equal Heavens Technique also derived from the True Immortal Script?"
Zhong Daogong nodded. "Indeed. You can consider it a True Immortal Script character written jointly by the Ark's elders, our combined efforts approaching the power of a True Immortal's own hand. Due to its connection to the essence of the Equal Heavens Technique, the character 'Jun' [Equal/均] is one of the Ark's most closely guarded secrets. Therefore, we didn't reveal it during our previous exchanges."
Li Fan said, "And now you're telling me everything… It seems I have no choice but to agree to your request."
Zhong Daogong waved his hand. "Don't misunderstand, fellow Daoist. We have no way of forcing a dying man wielding such a powerful escape technique. This isn't a demand, but a sincere request."
"A request? Are you finally inviting me to join the elders' council?" Li Fan snorted.
"That's one of them. There's another."
Li Fan stared intently at Zhong Daogong.
Zhong Daogong remained calm, bowing slightly. "We ask you to take a part of the Equal Heavens Technique… back to Great Qi."
"What?!" A flash of anger crossed Li Fan's eyes as he abruptly stood up, locking eyes with Zhong Daogong. "Don't joke with me, Elder Zhong! Didn't you just say only members of the elders' council can participate in the Equal Heavens Technique?"
"I also said that the technique is essentially writing a True Immortal Script character together. Having studied the script for so long, we naturally have ways to involve other beings in writing the 'Jun' character, even if they're on opposite sides of the Star Sea. However… this requires your cooperation. The Ark's elders' council is too small. The consequences of using the technique are too severe for us to bear. But if Great Qi shares the burden…" Zhong Daogong finally revealed his true intentions.
Li Fan remained silent. A heavy silence fell upon the room.
Zhong Daogong didn't press him, patiently waiting for his answer. Li Fan's brow furrowed, his expression filled with conflict.
"I… need some time to consider this," he finally said.
A faint smile appeared on Zhong Daogong's face. "Then I'll visit you before tomorrow's meeting."
Li Fan left without a word.
Back in his courtyard, after confirming he wasn't being monitored, his calm facade crumbled, his thoughts in turmoil.
"The Equal Heavens Technique… truly remarkable. No wonder it's the Ark's ultimate reliance for crossing the Great Wall. Requiring a large number of beings to share the backlash of the True Immortal Script…" Li Fan sneered inwardly. "If I can see the true form of the 'Jun' character… why not? However, the Ark's elders have incredibly long lifespans. Even with those three unlucky fellows, they wouldn't be willing to share their lifespans with the entire population of Great Qi. So what's their true target for the technique?"
Outwardly motionless like a statue, Li Fan began to plot. In terms of comprehending the True Immortal Script, even the entire elders' council combined was no match for Li Fan, who understood the transformations between mortals and immortals, truth and falsehood.
"Once I understand the true form of the 'Jun' character, I can sabotage the technique at any time, turning it against them."
…
The next day.
As promised, Zhong Daogong arrived.
"Have you made your decision, fellow Daoist?" he asked with a smile.
"I agree. However…" Li Fan's expression was cold. "When will the Ark cross the Great Wall? I need a firm date. And I want to participate in the execution of the Equal Heavens Technique."
…
Li Fan made several demands.
Zhong Daogong agreed to all of them without hesitation. His readiness made Li Fan even more wary.
"Then can you tell me what the target of the Equal Heavens Technique is this time? It can't be just to extend the lifespans of Nangong Lie and the others, can it?" Li Fan stared intently at Zhong Daogong.
"We won't trouble Great Qi with our lifespan issues. We'll handle that ourselves. As for the true target… we'll inform you after you've set up the Equal Heavens Technique in your world."
Li Fan stared at Zhong Daogong, silent and motionless. After a long while, he said, "Fine! I agree! Great Qi… might be my homeland, but I don't care what happens after I die!" A cruel glint flashed in his eyes.
Zhong Daogong's expression remained unreadable. He didn't respond.
Li Fan didn't attend the subsequent elders' meeting, focusing instead on studying the Equal Heavens Technique ritual given to him by Zhong Daogong. Calling it a ritual wasn't entirely accurate. It was a formation combined with a True Immortal Script writing ritual, seemingly incorporating the life force of the Ark's Divine Tree.
"Simply inscribe this ritual in your world. When the technique is activated, all beings within its range will be automatically drawn into the ritual. Once it's set up, we'll sense it on the Ark. You can then return. We'll honor our promise!" Zhong Daogong's words echoed in his ears.
Li Fan muttered, "It only considers the number of beings involved, not their cultivation level. This makes things easier. I don't need to set it up in the Xuanhuang World. Any densely populated small world will do."
After spending a few more days on the Ark, thoroughly studying the ritual, Li Fan finally departed, carrying the hopes of the entire Ark.
The wooden sword's image materialized, carrying him back to the Xuanhuang World. He arrived in a mortal world called Great Qian.
"Isolated in the starry sky for too long, the Profound Immortal Ark has lost its sense of scale when it comes to population. Three million people is enough to satisfy their requirements." Li Fan's divine consciousness swept across the small world below. "A hundred million. Without spiritual energy, achieving such prosperity is remarkable. I wonder if exceeding their expectations will earn me a greater reward." Li Fan sneered. He didn't care about the Ark's promise. He just wanted to see the Equal Heavens Technique in action.
He discreetly deployed the ritual, enveloping the entire Great Qian World. He could sense the world's unease. Dark clouds gathered in the sky but were dispersed by a single glare from Li Fan. The small world's resistance was negligible under his power. He quickly completed the ritual's setup.
A faint energy fluctuation, like a gentle breeze, indicated that the Ark had received the signal. However, Li Fan didn't return immediately. He first went to Great Xuan. The four grey chess pieces retrieved by Immortal Master Yin and Daoist Hundred Flowers were placed on the Dao Discussion Platform.
"Sacred Teacher," they greeted him respectfully, their gazes, along with Li Fan's, fixed on the four artifacts.
Li Fan waved his hand, and under the pressure of his spiritual power, the four objects shattered, crushed into their most basic components. Finally, their true forms were revealed: four identical chess pieces, floating in the air, spinning and attracting each other.
(End of Chapter)